Summary
Mitsubishi wanted to cement its position and forge ahead of the competition by developing their health and safety systems for their lift company.
The problem
Construction sites are dangerous places: the lift industry still records hundreds of serious accidents a year and the HSE are always exerting pressure on companies to improve their safety record.
The client
Mitsubishi is one of the world’s most distinguished brands and its lift and escalator division handles some of the most prestigious building projects in the UK and across the world.
The approach and the solution
The Mitsubishi lift and escalator division has an excellent health and safety record in the industry and in order to cement this position and to stay ahead of the competition, Statius were invited to review the current Mitsubishi health and safety systems.
The initial review, an assessment against the OHSAS 18001 management systems standard, was very favourable but, as ever, it was found that improvements could be made. They always can be!
Possibly the biggest changes focused on revisions to the risk assessments. The approach taken by different parts of the Company was beginning to diverge, so a new “best practice” approach was adopted whereby the various activities undertaken were reviewed on a “task by task” basis creating a comprehensive hazard analysis for each. Each task was then matched with the tools and methods employed and, where necessary, various control measures implemented. It is not, however, sufficient to undertake a review of this nature in splendid isolation. Consequently, a training plan was then devised which ensured the new systems are rolled out for comment, feedback and revision.
The outcome
“Health and safety is fundamental to our reputation for quality. With the help of Statius we want to ensure that we have the tools for its effective management within our organisation” commented David McKee, Deputy General Manager for Mitsubishi’s Lift and Escalator Division. He went on; “The key benefit is that we have been able to create a consistent approach to health and safety across the installation and service divisions.”